American scientists believe that they managed to open a gene mutation that can increase the risk of ovarian cancer, which is transmitted from the father of his daughter.

The carrier of the detected genetic variation is the X chromosome. This mutation is not in the list of already known genes of predisposition to the development of cancer, which women can take tests.

However, according to experts, in order to confirm the behavior of the identified gene, further research is needed.

The discovery was published in the scientific journal PLoS Genetics.

At present, women in whose family someone has had cancer can undergo a screening for the presence of the BRCA gene, which significantly increases the risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.

For example, Angelina Jolie inherited the BRCA1 gene from her mother. After doctors established that her risk of developing breast cancer is 87%, and that of ovarian cancer - 50%, the Hollywood star decided on preventive surgery - removed the breast and ovaries.

However, the researchers believe that there may be many other cases - at first glance, sporadic ovarian cancer - which in fact have an inherited genetic nature. In some cases, the genetic predisposition of a girl can be obtained through the X chromosome, which they inherit from their father.

Men give their daughters an X chromosome.

Dr. Kevin Eng and his colleagues from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute focused on one suspicious gene called MAGEC3, located in the paternal X chromosome.

Ovarian cancer, associated with genes inherited from the father (and grandmother on the paternal line), developed at an earlier age than associated with the maternal genes. Also, scientists have found a link between the development of this disease in women and the higher rates of prostate cancer in fathers and sons.

In order to confirm this theory, researchers need to collect family data with quite specific and rather rare parameters: for example, a family with three daughters, all of whom have ovarian cancer, more likely caused by inherited X chromosome mutations than BRCA mutations.

"This study shows that in some women, the risk of developing ovarian cancer can be transmitted not only on the maternal line, but also on the paternal side," explains Catherine Pickworth of Cancer Research UK. "In the future, it can help women with a family history of ovarian cancer better assess the risk of developing this disease".

"This is important, because ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage, when it is difficult to treat it. Now you need to get a better idea of ??how the genetic errors found in this study can affect the inherited risk of developing ovarian cancer, "she says..

"These results, if confirmed by further research, will be a significant step forward in the prevention of ovarian cancer, will save thousands of lives," says Enwanan Jones, CEO of Target Ovarian Cancer.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that help repair damaged DNA in our cells. If people inherit a mutated version of any of these genes, then the risk of developing certain types of cancer is very high.

The mutation BRCA 1 40-50% guarantees the risk of ovarian cancer throughout life.

If women know that they have mutations in the BRCA gene, they can decide how to proceed, before the onset of the disease.